What to Do If You’ve Made One of These Fatal Eyebrow Mistakes

From fluffy to sculpted and everything in between, brows are having a bit of a moment in the beauty world. There are tons of brow products on the market and even more brow shapes to choose from, so it can be easy to get overwhelmed or end up with a shape you didn’t intend. If you’ve made one of these eyebrow mistakes, don’t panic — these ten brow blunders have super easy fixes!

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Mistake: over-plucking your eyebrows

Whether you tried out a new brow tech who favours super-thin brows or just got overzealous with the tweezers, we’ve all ended up in this position at some point. Your precious thick brows are now pencil-thin and look like they’d be right at home in the '90’s.

These aren't the only beauty mistakes. See the worst beauty trends of all time.

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The fix: castor oil

The bad news is that the only real fix for this one is time — depending on the speed of hair growth, it may take up to 8 weeks for regrowth. The good news is that you can help things along on the cheap with a bottle of castor oil. Grab a clean spoolie brush, dip it in the castor oil and run it through your brows to condition and stimulate hair growth.

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Mistake: a misplaced eyebrow arch

You try to get your brows into shape, and in the process, end up with an arch that’s a little too far to the left or right.

use brow measurement to find your perfect arch placement

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The fix: use brow measurement to find your perfect arch placement

Before you shape your brows, take a pencil or slim makeup brush and place the base of it on the tip of your nose. Looking straight forward, angle the end of the brush through the pupil of your eye. Your brow’s arch should be right where the pencil meets your brow.

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Mistake: your brows are too far apart

Sometimes, in an effort to avoid the dreaded unibrow, we tweeze between our brows…and go a little overboard. The result? Brows that are too far apart.

You might also like: 10 quick and easy fixes for common beauty mistakes.

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The fix: use brow measurements to find where your brows should start

Brow measurements to the rescue yet again! Place a pencil or thin brush on the crease of your nose and angle it straight up to your brow — that’s where your brow should start. Use some castor oil to encourage growth, and in the mean time, fill your brows up to that spot.

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Mistake: eyebrows that are too short

Maybe you (or your brow tech) were too enthusiastic with the tweezers. Maybe you, like many of us, were born without the outer “tails” of your brows. Regardless of how you got there, your brows are now too short, and don’t frame your eyes to their full potential.

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The fix: measure and fill your eyebrows

Are you noticing a trend here? Mother Nature gives us markers on our faces for the most flattering brow shapes. This time, anchor a pencil or thin makeup brush beside your nostril and angle it out to the corner of your eye. Where that line intersects with your brow is where your brow should end. Fill or apply castor oil as necessary.

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Mistake: mismatched eyebrows

Beauty enthusiasts know the old saying: your brows should be sisters, not twins. Because all faces are asymmetrical, chances are that your brows don’t match. Shaping can make them look similar, but if you take matters into your own hands, you might end up with brows that look more like distant cousins.

woman getting eyebrows professionally waxed

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The fix: get professional help

If your brows are super asymmetrical, your best bet is to go to a professional. Find a brow tech you trust and get them to shape your brows for you. From there, you can tweeze stray hairs to maintain the shape as new growth comes in.

Are you also making these contour mistakes? Here's how to fix them.

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Mistake: you’re using the wrong product

Brow products seem to go in and out of style: there was a time where pencils were the only option, and now pomades are having a moment. You might be tempted to choose your filling product based on what’s in style.

use the right brow product for your look

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The fix: choose your brow product based on the look

Instead of reaching for that popular product, choose your brow filler based on the look you want. For a soft, blurred look, choose a powder; for a sculpted look, pick a pomade; for a natural look, try a pencil. It’s also worth noting that brow-filling beginners might like pencils for their ease of use and convenience.

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Mistake: you’re filling your eyebrows with a shade that’s too dark

With a ton of brow shades to choose from and dozens of different brands, it can be difficult to get that shade match just right. Many people think their brows are naturally darker than they actually are, and end up choosing a brow shade that’s way too dark. The result is a super harsh-looking brow.

use an eyebrow shade lighter than you need

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The fix: try one shade lighter than you think you need

If you think you’ve matched your brows exactly, try going one shade lighter. This slightly-lighter shade can often give you all the dimension and definition you want without the harshness of a shade that’s too dark.

See more: this is the secret to thicker, beautiful brows.

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Mistake: orange eyebrows

Have you ever noticed, either immediately or throughout the day, your brows start to look orange? If so, chances are that the shade of powder or pencil you’re using to fill your brows is too warm.

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The fix: pick a grey-toned colour to fill your brows

Unless you’re a redhead, our brows tend to run cooler than the rest of our hair does. This might be why your warmer-toned pencil ends up looking orange. Next time you’re shopping for makeup, try picking a cool taupe or brown (depending on your hair colour) in your brow product of choice — they tend to look more natural.

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Mistake: your eyebrows are looking harsh

No matter what you do, your brows just seem to look harsh and drawn-on rather than fluffy and natural. The sculpted look is in — hello, Instagram brows — but if it’s a more natural look you crave, don’t give up!

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The fix: blend your eyebrows

Something few people talk about is that all brow products require some degree of blending. Many pencils now come with a spoolie — a little mascara wand-like applicator — on the end, and many eyebrow brushes for powder and pomade are dual-ended with a spoolie on one side as well. After filling in your brows, blend that product through for a seamless, full look.

woman with overly bright eyebrow highlight

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Mistake: a too-bright brow highlight

Most beauty lovers know the age-old trick of applying concealer just under the brow. This highlights the area in a super pretty way, lets you tidy up that line (hiding any mistakes you might have made), and hides any stray hairs when you’re overdue for a brow wax. But this can sometimes look harsh and unnatural, leaving you with a frosty halo around your brows.

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The fix: choose a concealer that’s close to your skin colour

Instead of opting for a super-light concealer, choose one that’s one or two shades lighter than your skin, max. Then, only apply it on the brow-bone, as this is the area we tend to want a sculpted, lifted look. If you want to clean up the top of your brow, use a concealer that matches your skin exactly for a seamless blend.